Reversible spouts and nozzles with clinched in gasket



Jan. 10, 1961 CUR-n5 2,967,646

REVERSIBLE SPOUTS AND NOZZLES WITH CLINCHEDIN GASKET Filed Dec. 28, 1956 INVENTOR. ROBE/z r M Cue r/s A TTORNEY.

REVERSIBLE SPOUTS AND NOZZLES WITH CLINCHED 1N GASKET Robert Marshall Curtis, Blakehurst, New South Wales,

Australia, assignor to American Flange & Manufacturing C0., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 28, 1956, Ser. No. 631,317

7 Claims. (Cl. 222539) This invention relates to closure constructions for containers, including reversible spouts, and is particularly concerned with such closure constructions formed and equipped to insure the leakproof closing of the container with the spout carried to extend inwardly thereof when in transit and to insure the leakproof mounting of the spout in rigid extended position, outwardly of the con tainer, for pouring.

This invention has for its object the formation and cooperative relationship of nozzles, spouts and closing elements, for container openings, with effective gasketing carried by the nozzle, for a tight closing of the opening, or reversely, for an eifective mounting of the spout in rigid leakproof position for pouring.

The common practice, in the reversible mounting of spouts in nozzles, has been to provide a plurality of gaskets, either carried by the spout member, or by other of the closure parts, to prevent leakage both when the container is closed for shipment or storage, or around the spout when the spout is erected for pouring. Such gasketing is expensive, complicated and, often times, ineffective. Furthermore it rather precludes truly rigid mounting of the spout for pouring purposes.

In the invention construction, however, a single gasket of substantial body is employed, suitably secured in place in the nozzle, ready to serve several purposes. It is so positioned and dimensioned that, with the exception of the gasketed screw cap on the end of the spout, it is the sole gasketing employed to provide a leakproof joint in the several situations already referred to. Furthermore it enables an effective closure to be formed merely by means of the screw cap and instruction disk in the absence of any spout.

The manner in which these and other features of the invention are achieved will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, taken in conjunction with the following description in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of a container, equipped with the closure construction of the invention, carrying a spout in inwardly extending, or retracted, position.

Fig. 2 is a half sectional, half elevational view of the spout per se.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the nozzle per se.

Fig. 4 is a part section, part elevation of the nozzle of Fig. 3, with the section taken generally on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the screw cap.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the instruction disk.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section thereof taken on line 88 of Fig. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the closure assembly of Fig. 1, with a portion thereof broken away to show the relationship of the parts.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the States Patent 2,967,646 Patented Jan. 10, 1961 ice spout reversed and assembled with the nozzle in pouring position.

In the Fig. 1 showing, the closure, generally indicated at 1, is applied to the head of a container 2, in a recess 3, provided therefor, by suitable means such as a double seam at the base 4 of the nozzle, as shown in detail in Figs. 9 and 10. The wall or head 2 of the container is illustrated as being double seamed at 5 to the side Wall 6 of the container. 2

Considering the elements of the closure in detail, the spout has a generally cylindrical body portion 7 which is preferably, though not necessarily, enlarged adjacent its base, in the short enlarged cylindrical portion 8 for purposes which will appear hereinafter. The portion 8 terminates in the base'or outwardly extending flange 9 of the spout which, as here shown, is a flat annulus with upper and lower flat surfaces 10 and 11.

The upper end of the body 7 is turned at an angle to provide an opening in a plane which is at an angle to the plane of the base 9. This enables an off-set extension 12 to be secured thereto by a double seamed or other suitable joint at 13 around the opening in the body. The off-set extension 12 is of suflicient length to direct a stream past the edge or chime of the container when the closure is secured to the head of the container adjacent the chime 5, as is the common practice.

Towards its outer end the extension 12 is formed with a rolled thread portion 14 and at that end the extension is returned into an annular outwardly disposed bead portion 15 providing an effective gasket seat. The portion 14 receives a threaded closure cap having its side wall 16 threaded to engage the threads 14, having a top 17 and having a disk-like gasket 18 within said top and extending throughout the area of the same to overlie the gasket seat 15 at the position 19 and form a tight joint therearound. This closure cap serves to close off any path of liquid through the extension, either when the spout is in retracted position within the container, as shown in Fig. 1, or when it is extended into pouring position and the user wishes to close it while left in that position.

The nozzle for cooperation with the spout and for carrying the gasket of the invention has an annular base 4 in the form of an upward opening channel preferably gasketed at 20 so as to make a tight joint when the double seaming, detailed in Figs. 9 and 10, is effected. The side wall 21, of the nozzle, extends up from the base 4 and is given a roll thread formation. Above its threads the side wall 21 extends into a short cylindrical collar portion 22. From the collar 22 the side wall is curled inwardly at 23, turned downwardly at 24 and inwardly at 25 to form a shelf on which a suitable gasket 26 is seated. This gasket is held in place on the shelf 25 by the upward crimping of the inner edge of that shelf at 27.

The provision and retention of the preformed gasket 26 in this position, the substantial body of it, and the effective crimping of it in place by the lip 27 and between that lip and the side wall 24 are of considerable signififirmly on its seat during repeated openings and closingsv of the container and reversals of the spout. Then again the gasket must have sufficient body so that the base 9 of the spout will seat on and down into it in either extended or retracted position of the spout and to an extent to make a tight joint. Also it must make a tight joint with the instruction disk alone when the spout is omitted. Furthermore the turned up lip 27 must be accurately formed to provide a circular opening of the cor rect diameter to receive the enlargement 8 of the spout body when the spout is in retracted position, without permitting any materially lateral play which might act to dislodge the gasket or cause a leakage path to form.

As already pointed out the enlargement 8 is not essential but the presence of it facilitates the assembly of the spout in retracted position, for in this Way the principal part of the body 7, being of smaller diameter than the enlargement 8, will quickly slip through the opening bordered by the lip 27. The same is true with regard to the application of the screw cap to retain the spout in extended pouring position. Nevertheless an effective spout can be made without the enlargement S but with the body 7 having the same diameter throughout and being sized to slide through the opening bordered by the lip 27.

The screw cap, in the form of an annulus and which is employed both for closing the opening and for holding the spout erect, is. illustrated per se in Figs. 5 and 6. This member, like the other parts, is of light weight sheet metal. It has a screw threaded side wall 30 whose bottom edge is. beaded over at 31 to impart rigidity to it and whose top is turned in to form a shelf 32. The shelf 32 is preferably, though not necessarily, corrugated, or ribbed, at 33 to strengthen and stiffen it and, at its inner end, is turned down into the collar portion 34. The collar portion defines the opening through the screw cap and terminates in a free edge face 35.

The internal diameter of the collar portion 34 is substantially the same as that of the opening bordered by the lip 27. Thus it is capable of similarly receiving the outer surface of the enlargement 8. Furthermore the inner diameter of the collar 34 is dimensioned to receive the related portion of the instruction disk shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

This instruction disk, which also serves as part of the closure, is a shallow cup shaped member having a fiat peripheral portion 36 and an inner circular portion 37 which is joined to the peripheral portion 36 by the upwardly off-set neck 38. Here, again, the proper relation ship of, the parts calls for the outer diameter of the neck 38 being substantially the same as the diameter of the enlargement 8 so that the instruction disk will seat snugly within the collar 34. Likewise the neck 33 is preferably, though not necessarily, of substantially the same height as the collar 34 so that when the screw cap and instruction disk are assembled together, the surfaces 32 and 37 will lie substantially in a plane. It is also desirable, though not necessary, that the peripheral portion 36 have about the same extent as the extent of the spout base 9 outwardly from the enlargement 8.

The center portion 37 of the instruction disk may, as its name implies, be provided with suitable instructions for the manipulation of the various parts of the closure assembly. The manner in which that manipulation can be carried out will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 9, which shows the parts assembled in closing position, it is first to be seen that the closure cap 16 is secured in place on the end of the off-set extension 12. It should be tightly secured thereon so that nothing can leak upwardly and outwardly through the spout itself. The enlargement 8 of the spout body is seen as seated down within and in opposition to the lip 27. Since the enlargement 8, can move freely with respect to the opening bordered by the lip 27, the spout is dropped down so that its base 9 overlies the gasket 26 to a substantial extent, with the upper surface 10 of that base in contact with the gasket. The instruction disk has its peripheral portion 36 in overlying relationship with respect to the undersurface 11 of the base 9 and has its neck 38 extending upwardly therefrom. The neck 38 is in turn seated within the collar 34 of the screw cap, Whose free end face 35 seats down against the peripheral portion 36.

With the side wall 30 of the screw cap in threaded engagement with the side wall 21 of the nozzle, the screw cap'is turned down to force the free end face 35 against the portion 36 of the instruction disk which, in turn, forces the base 9 of the spout against and part way down into the gasket 26. This provides a leakproof joint between the spout and the nozzle and, since leakage up through the spout is precluded by the proper positioning of the closure cap 16, a tight leakproof closure is provided.

To open the container and position the spout in operating or pouringposition, it is merely necessary to unscrew the screw cap from the nozzle, remove the instruction disk from the screw cap and remove the spout from the opening through the lip 27. The spout is then reversed into the Fig. 10 position where the undersurface 11 of its base 9 is engaged with the gasket 26. Then the screw cap, this time without the instruction disk, is brought into place with its collar 34 engaging the outer surface of the enlargement 8. This prevents sideways movement of the spout and thus positions it rigidly for pouring. In fact the positioning is sufficiently rigid that the container can be rested on the spout while pouring is being effected.

Again, as the screw cap is screwed down with its side wall 30 in engagement with the side wall 21 of the nozzle, the free end face 35 of the collar 34 engages the upper surface 10 of the spout base 9 and forces that surface down on to and part way into the gasket 26. Thus a leakproof rigid connection is also effected for pouring. Obviously the closure cap 16 will be removed when it is desired to pour out through the spout but that closure cap can be re-applied for storage of the container with the spout in pouring position.

Alternatively the instruction disk may be gasketed on its undersurface for double assurance against leakage out through the spout, but this is by no means essential for if the closure cap 16 is properly applied it will do the job adequately.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that thc closure and spout assembly of the invention will perform for both closing and pouring purposes in eifective manner by simple means which readily suggest how the construction can be converted from one purpose to the other. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the invention, as embodied in the foregoing, readily lends itself to various modifications. It is accordingly to be understood that the specific construction shown is merely by way of illustration and, though the illustration is that of a highly effective arrangement, it is not to be construed as limiting the invention.

Having disclosed my invention what I claim and dcsire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Closure construction for containers including a nozzle for surrounding the opening in a container wall, said nozzle comprising a light weight sheet metal member, generally in the form of a cylinder, and formed for the reception of a closure member thereover, means carried by the inner end of said nozzle for securing said nozzle to a container wall about said opening therein, the outer end of said nozzle being turned inwardly and then directly downwardly into a downwardly turned collar portion and then being turned radially inwardly from the lower end of said collar portion to form an annular gasket receiving ledge, a pre-formed annular gasket seated on said ledge, the outer periphery of said gasket engaging said collar and the inner edge of said ledge being turned upwardly in the form of a lip, said lip terminating in engagement with the inner periphery of said gasket, at a position below the upper surface of said gasket, to hold said gasket on said ledge by retaining the same between said collar and said lip and to expose the upper surface of said gasket devoid of any overlying metal.

2, Closure construction as in claim 1 and including said lip being turned into and terminating in an edge seated within the inner peripheral surface of said gasket below the upper surface of said gasket, whereby gasket material, devoid of any metal, extends well up above the end of said lip.

3. Closure construction as in claim 1 and including the radially inwardly exposed surface of said lip forming a circular bordering surface of metal for the opening through said nozzle.

4. Closure construction as in claim 3 and including a reversible spout carried by said nozzle, said spout having a cylindrical body portion slideable Within said bordering surface and a directly laterally outwardly extending flat flange-like base portion formed integrally with said cylindrical body portion at one end thereof, said base portion being seated on said gasket and having the outer diameter thereof smaller than the outer diameter of said gasket.

5. Closure construction as in claim 4 and including said cylindrical body portion of said spout being formed into an enlarged collar portion extending upwardly for a short distance from said base, said enlarged collar portion being formed for close slideable fit within said bordering surface.

6. Closure construction as in claim 4, said spout extending upwardly out of said nozzle and a closure cap for holding said spout in upstanding position, said closure cap including a side wall formed for engagement with the exterior of said side wall of said nozzle, an annular portion extending radially inwardly from said side wall of said cap and a downturned cylindrical neck portion bordering said annular portion, the free end face of said down turned neck portion engaging said flange-like spout base and securing the same against said gasket, and the side wall of said spout, adjacent said base, and the inner surface of said neck portion having substantially the same diameter and lying in slideable engagement.

7. Closure construction as in claim 4, said spout extending downwardly through said nozzle, a closure disc overlying the outer end of said spout and having a skirt portion seating on said flange-like base portion of said spout, a closure cap having a side wall engaged with the exterior of said side wall of said nozzle, an annular portion extending radially inwardly from said side wall of said cap and a downturned cylindrical neck portion extending from the inner periphery of said annular portion, the free end face of said downturned neck portion engaging said skirt of said closure disc and holding the same down against said base of said spout to press said base against said gasket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,010,285 Mackin Nov. 28, 1911 2,070,783 Conner Feb. 16, 1937 2,103,406 Conner Dec. 28, 1937 2,171,302 Conner Aug. 29, 1939 2,649,227 Vaughn Aug. 18, 1953 

